Liberia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has come under intense review, with allegations of corruption threatening to undermine its credibility and the public’s trust in disaster response efforts.
A group representing disaster victims has accused the agency’s Executive Director, Ansu Dulleh, of financial mismanagement, procurement fraud, and misleading reports. The Concerned Disaster Victims of Liberia now demand swift action, urging President Joseph Boakai to suspend Dulleh during ongoing investigations by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
In their statement, issued on March 24, 2025, the victims raised alarms over the failure of the NDMA to appropriately distribute over US$740,000 allocated for disaster relief in the 2024 national budget. Despite a direct allocation of US$100,000 for emergency responses and an additional US$500,000 for flood relief, none of these funds reached those most in need. The frustrated and disillusioned victims pointed to what they view as a lack of action by Dulleh’s administration in fulfilling the promises made to them.
Moreover, the group criticized Dulleh for misrepresenting his predecessor’s accomplishments, accusing him of attempting to claim credit for initiatives already carried out under the previous leadership. Dulleh’s management has reportedly contributed to the growing skepticism surrounding the NDMA, as the public questions his ability to lead effectively in the face of a crisis.
The issue of accountability has gained traction, particularly after revelations from activist Martin K. N. Kollie, who has brought forward claims of severe financial irregularities. Kollie’s research suggests that Dulleh has overseen fraudulent financial practices, including inflating the prices of emergency vehicles purchased by the NDMA. One example he highlighted was the alleged purchase of two 17-seater Force Traveller buses at a cost of US$81,000, an amount far above what other government entities purchased for similar vehicles. Kollie’s investigation revealed that these buses were bought for US$28,600 each by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) and the Oilers Sports Association (OSA), further fueling suspicions of corruption.
But the controversy doesn’t end there. According to Kollie, the two buses purchased under Dulleh’s leadership were later deemed “unfit for use” by the General Services Agency (GSA), adding to the growing pile of concerns over the NDMA’s procurement practices. The activist also pointed out that Dulleh bypassed the NDMA’s internal procurement procedures, excluding crucial decision-makers from the process, and fueling suspicions of deliberate efforts to conceal irregularities.
In an additional layer of controversy, Kollie accused Dulleh of submitting two conflicting budget performance reports, one to the Legislature and another to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). In these reports, Dulleh allegedly misrepresented the NDMA’s achievements, claiming credit for the creation of a national disaster database and other projects that were completed under the leadership of his predecessor, Henry O. Williams. These discrepancies, Kollie argued, represent a deliberate attempt by Dulleh to mislead the government and the public about his administration’s accomplishments.
As if these allegations weren’t enough, Kollie further challenged Dulleh’s claims regarding the NDMA’s role in the Early Warning for All Initiative, a project which he misrepresented as an NDMA initiative. Kollie clarified that the initiative was actually funded by international agencies, such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and had no direct financial backing from the NDMA.
For the Concerned Disaster Victims, these claims represent not just a matter of financial mismanagement, but a betrayal of trust by an agency that is supposed to safeguard the vulnerable in times of crisis. The victims have called for Dulleh’s immediate suspension in the hope that such action will help restore confidence.
